The International Criminal Court (ICC) said on August 19, 2026, that recent U.S. sanctions targeting its president, Tomoko Akane, and a senior prosecution official amounted to a “flagrant attack” on the court’s independence. The measures, announced by the United States on August 18, were described by the court as undermining an impartial judicial institution and the rule of law.
European Union institutions and a number of European governments publicly urged that the court be allowed to operate without external pressure. The U.N. human rights chief also called for the sanctions to be lifted. Japan, home country of the ICC president and a major funder of the court, described the U.S. move as very unfortunate and reiterated support for the ICC.
U.S. officials framed the sanctions as a response to what Washington calls politicisation within the court and linked them to ICC activity involving allies. The measures restrict the sanctioned individuals’ access to the U.S. financial system and ban entry into the United States.
The sanctions follow earlier U.S. actions against ICC officials and diplomatic efforts by Washington criticizing the court’s investigations. Some states have since announced intentions to withdraw from or distance themselves from the court. The latest round of steps has intensified debate among allies over the institution’s role and immunity from political pressure.
The ICC, based in The Hague, prosecutes individuals for alleged major international crimes when national jurisdictions do not or cannot act.
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